Vietnam Timeless Charm

Trip's length:	16 days
Trip Themes:	Cruise, History&Culture, Community, Education
Transport:	Van, train, boat, flight
Places visited:	Hanoi - Bac Ha - Sapa - Halong Bay - Hoi An -Buon Ma Thuot - Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City
Tour operates:	All year around
Start / End cities:	Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation:	Hotel: 10nts, Train: 2nts, Home Stay: 2nts, Boat: 1nt

TRIP FACTS:

- Medium Paced Family Tour, You will gain insights into the authentic Vietnam, good balance between active activities and relaxing. Even the adults will love the educational nature of the trip!

- Tour utilises air, coach and train plus overnight boat cruise in Halong Bay

- Order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions

INCLUSIVE:

• Accommodation with daily breakfasts
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• Expert tour guides
• Private air-conditioned vehicles
• Two way train tickets: Hanoi - Lao Cai
• Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
• Boats in Halong Bay
• Domestic air tickets: Hanoi - Danang; Danang - Buon Me Thuot
• Two bottles of mineral water/person/day

EXCLUSIVE:

• Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
• International flight tickets
• Visas and airport departure tax
• Tips and gratuities
• Meals, drinks and others that not mentioned clearly in the inclusion above

Detailed Itinerary


Day 1: Hanoi [D]

On arrival in Hanoi your family is met and transferred to the hotel which is located in the downtown. The rest of your first day is on your own to get the taste of Hanoi with your tour guide’s suggestions. Enjoy welcomed dinner with local specialties at a restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi [B, L]

Hanoi is one of Asia's most enchanting cities. The many lakes, parks and cafes provide enjoyable escapes. You take a guided tour of Hanoi, visiting the featured sights, including the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and paying homage to Vietnam's most famous revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh. We also include lunch at the KOTO café – an amazing project aimed at providing vocational training and experience in the hospitality industry for underprivileged young people.

All the staff you meet at this café has come from poor backgrounds. In the afternoon, as you are heading in a region inhabited by hill tribe people, so the excellent Museum of Ethnology, situated on the outskirts of town is chosen as it is very child friendly with an outdoor section and many “hands on” exhibits. After that, you are transferred back to the Old Quarter for your own dinner before the taking an eight-hour overnight sleeper-class train journey up towards the Chinese border in the remote north of Vietnam. Overnight on train.

Day 3: Sapa [B, L]

This morning, you arrive at the railway station quite early and get picked up for the breakfast at a local restaurant. Then you’ll catch a glimpse of China over the other side of the river in Lao Cai border city this morning as you are heading to Bac Ha district to join one of the amazing tribal markets which are very colorful and interesting.

You will witness the way the locals are trading and acting their social exchanges. There are several markets: Coc Ly market (Tuesdays), Cao Son market (Wednesdays), Lung Khau Nhin market (Thursdays), Can Cau market (Saturdays), Bac Ha market (Sundays). Before driving to Sapa, you have a chance to take an easy walk to visit a beautiful village of houses-on-stilts and a short boat trip downstream on Chay River. Arrive at Sapa, check into your hotel. Overnight at Sapa.

Day 4: Sapa Hill tribe, soft hike [B, L, D]

The picturesque minority hill tribe town of Sapa is set amidst some magnificent mountain scenery and in the shadow of Vietnam’s tallest peak, the 3,143-metre-high Mt. Fansipan, this former French colonial hill station town is home to some of Vietnam’s most colorful minority hill tribes. The French developed Sapa in an effort to replicate parts of the Alps and the Pyrenees. A number of their villas remain but many were lost in 1979 when the Vietnamese army evicted the invading Chinese.

You will spend 2 hours this morning to hike gently to visit Ma Tra village of the Black H’mong people who live in a beautiful valley, you do have chance to visit a local primary school and kindergarten, it is a great opportunity for your kids to learn the differences between your place and the local one. They also could join the school kids in some of the local games. Get picked up and drive back to Sapa for lunch.

In the afternoon you get driven to Muong Hoa valley with scenic stops on the way for taking photographs. Arrive at the hiking point, you take a gentle walk downhill to visit Lao Chai and Tavan village. The valley is said to be the most beautiful one in the region with its lush vegetation and rice terraces. Arrive at Tavan village where the Giay ethnic minority inhabits, have dinner and experience the home stay night at a family in this village.

Day 5: Sapa easy and night train to Hanoi [B]

This morning, you will be waken up by the roosters and enjoy the home-made breakfast after a fresh-air stroll around the village. You will get picked up by the vehicle by 9:30 AM for 30 minute drive back to Sapa town. The remainder of the day is free on your own to explore the little town and do shopping at the centre market. Lunch on your own account. At 4:00 PM you make your way to Lao Cai for dinner at a restaurant and board the overnight train for the return trip to Hanoi. Overnight on train

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